Device for increasing occupant protection in a motor vehicle during a lateral impact

ABSTRACT

Disclosed is a device for increasing occupant protection in a motor vehicle during a lateral impact, in which the energy input acts laterally on a partial area of the motor vehicle door, with a motor vehicle seat being situated on the side of the motor vehicle door facing away from the energy input, the motor vehicle door being provided with an interior lining facing the motor vehicle seat and at least one partial area of the interior door lining being conveyable from an initial state into an extendet state projecting into the motor vehicle interior by means of a drive unit connected to the motor vehicle door and to the partial area of the interior door lining. 
     The invention is distinguished by the drive unit being provided with a transducer material which is activatable by energy input.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a device for increasing occupant protection in a motor vehicle during a lateral impact, in which the energy input acts laterally on a door region of the motor vehicle, with a motor vehicle seat being situated on the side of the motor vehicle door facing away from the energy input, the motor vehicle door being provided with interior door lining facing the motor vehicle seat.

PRIOR ART

Motor vehicle accidents in which uncontrolled, collision-based energy input acts by way of lateral impact on a motor vehicle door usually result in considerable injury to the occupants of the motor vehicle, in particular to the occupants situated closest to the motor vehicle door exposed to the lateral impact. The reason for this is the limited deformation path at disposal for the crash energy acting on the motor vehicle door and the relatively limited energy absorption capacity of the lateral structure of a motor vehicle.

For reducing the risk of injury in lateral impact scenarios, there are numerous state-of-the-art proposals to increase the rigidity of the motor vehicle door in transverse direction of the vehicle with the aid of suited lateral-impact beam systems for stabilizing the motor vehicle door, such as described in DE AS 22 15 674, DE 41 25 299 C2 and DE 198 28 444 A1.

Representative for such systems with lateral impact protection reference is made to DE 103 41 329 A1, which describes a lateral impact protection system whose lateral impact beam running through the motor vehicle door is activatable by the energy input stemming from the collision independent of the form of energy in such a manner that the lateral impact beam enters a propping active connection with the chassis areas surrounding the motor vehicle door. Employing a transducer material which is used to activate the lateral impact beam permits rendering the manner of operation of the lateral impact beam reversible and, in particular, to activate it at selected times.

Although with progressing development the prior-art lateral impact protection systems are able to absorb the crash-energy input directed at the motor vehicle door better and to convey it to more rigid areas of the chassis, they are nonetheless unable to influence the uncontrolled crash-based inherent movements of a person sitting on a motor vehicle seat in order to protect that person. But rather airbag systems are employed, which pop open inside the motor vehicle interior following a collision and act as an impact cushion for the person. In particular, airbag systems integrated in and along the interior lining of the door offer resilient buffering protection between the interior door lining and the person situated on the motor vehicle seat. Airbag systems, however, can only be used in an as such known manner once and possess resilient buffering protective properties only if they are maximumly full.

A proposal described in the subsequently published DE 103 51 752 A1, whose date of disclosure lies after the priority date claimed with the filing of the present invention goes one step further regarding reducing the danger of injury for motor vehicle occupants in lateral impact accidents. In this case the protection system provides at least one cushion element which is disposed laterally on the motor vehicle adjacent to the occupant position and is movable from a rest state into an extended state in the direction to the occupant position by means of an activation device. The activation device is driven by a vehicle-inherent drive. Extrusion of the cushion element occurs with an electric motor by means of a spring memory or by means of a pyrotechnical element.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The object of the present invention is to further develop a device for increasing occupant protection in a motor vehicle during a lateral impact in which the energy input acts laterally on a door region of the motor vehicle, with a motor vehicle seat being situated on the side of the motor vehicle door facing away from the energy input, which motor vehicle door side is provided with an interior door lining facing the motor vehicle seat, in such a manner that protection against uncontrolled impact is improved, in particular on the motor vehicle door exposed to collision-based energy input, of a person situated on the motor vehicle seat. Moreover, if possible, the device should be used reversibly.

The solution to the object on which the present invention is based is set forth in claim 1. Features further developing the inventive idea are the subject matter of the subordinate claims and the description with reference to the preferred embodiments.

According to the invented solution the device for increasing occupant protection in a motor vehicle during a lateral impact in which energy input acts laterally on a door region of the motor vehicle, a motor vehicle seat being situated on the side of the motor vehicle door facing away from the energy input, an interior door lining facing the motor vehicle seat being provided and at least one partial area of the interior door lining being conveyed, by means of a drive unit connected to the motor vehicle door and the partial area, from an initial state into an extended state projecting into the motor vehicle interior, is distinguished by the drive unit having a transducer material activatable by energy input.

The device according to the invented solution is based on the idea to fill the intermediate space between a person sitting on the motor vehicle seat and the interior door lining as completely as possible so that the dynamic behavior of the person in a crash situation can be influenced. In a lateral impact situation, after inherent body inertness has been overcome, the moment of force acting on the motor vehicle first accelerates the person in the direction of the flow of the collision-based force by the force triggering a motion which the seat-belt system abruptly stops and, due to the inherent elasticity of the protection system as well as the inherent elasticity of the person's body, the motion is transformed into a reverse movement in the direction of the motor vehicle door exposed to the energy flow of the lateral impact. The person experiences extreme changing moments of force especially in the head/neck region, which possesses high injury potential. However, a person usually suffers life threatening injuries if he/she hits the side of the motor vehicle door facing the interior of the motor vehicle, which door is deformed, respectively deforms, toward the interior of the motor vehicle as a result of the collision. The invented solution device permits decisively reducing the life threatening injury potential connected with the person hitting the interior wall of the motor vehicle door in that the reverse motion directed in the opposite direction of the collision-based force input described in the preceding is suppressed as much as possible and in particular gently decelerated by using a transducer material according to the invented solution. A prerequisite for this is actively minimizing the free intermediate space between the person and the interior lining of the motor vehicle door by means of a transducer-material-based drive element.

For this purpose the interior door lining is provided with at least one partial area which is extended in a rotary manner or a translating manner from the interior-door-lining plane to minimize the space between it and the person preferably slightly touching the person laterally. If the person presses on the extended partial area of the interior door lining due to the dynamic behavior stemming from the collision, the partial area is preferably returned to its initial position. Returning to the initial position is dampened, respectively decelerated by using suited dampening elements. Suited as preferred dampening units are basically any type of elastic molding body, such as foam rubber cushions, elastomers, etc. Especially suited, however, is using transducer materials, for example shape-memory alloys or electrorheological liquids, just to name a few, whose dampening properties are adjustable by corresponding activation by way of controlled electric energy input. Energy dissipation takes place inside the dampening unit designed in this manner due to which the biomechanical stress acting on the person can be reduced considerably. Thus designing the dampening unit according to the invented solution using a transducer material permits selected extension of a respective partial area of the interior door lining and at the same time also acts as a dampening unit. In this manner, the drive unit and the dampening unit are combined in a single unit making a small, light-weight unit realizable, as the automobile industry desires.

A preferred combination of the protection system according to the invented solution with a vehicle-inherent sensor system which is able to detect an imminent, unavoidable-deemed lateral impact situation permits timely activation of the drive unit and controlled extension related thereto of at least one partial area of the interior door lining even before the crash energy acts on the vehicle. In this manner, the afore-described space between the interior door lining and the person is reduced to a minimum. Even the additional distance to the motor vehicle door due to the reaction time and the elasticity of the seat-belt system can be minimized by means of corresponding follow-up of the partial area. In this way, a situation is created in which the person, on the one hand, is buffered by the seat-belt system and, on the other hand, by the at least one extended partial area of the interior door lining.

In an especially preferred embodiment, two decoupled from each other partial areas of the interior door lining are conveyed into an extended state, one partial area being able to prop up laterally the pelvis region from one side and the other partial area to prop up the torso region of the person situated on the motor vehicle seat. Both partial areas are returned to their respective initial positions by the dampening units allocated to them with the same dampening characteristics or varying dampening characteristics adapted to the respective biomechanical stress limits of the corresponding parts of the body by the person's inherent dynamics in such a manner that the person experiences for the most part gentle cushioning.

Of course, more than two partial areas or even the entire interior door lining can be used in a suited manner to cushion the person according to the invented solution.

The described device for selected reduction of the life-threatening injury potential to which the occupants of a motor vehicle are exposed in the event of a lateral impact is based on the method principle that is distinguished by at least one region of an intermediate space between the person sitting on the motor vehicle seat and the interior lining of the door being minimized by the extension of at least one partial area of the interior lining of the door in direction of the interior of the motor vehicle. Furthermore, the object is that the at least one partial area of the interior lining of the door decelerates the person in a dampening manner during or following the collision-based energy input stemming from the collision-based relative acceleration in the direction of the interior lining of the door. Extension of the at least one partial area of the interior door lining in the direction of the interior of the motor vehicle occurs before the collision-based energy input with the aid of state-of-the-art pre-crash sensors which are preferably laterally attached to the motor vehicle and detect a shortly imminent unavoidable-deemed lateral impact situation. In this case, the drive unit required for extension of at least one partial area of the interior door lining is activated. Translating or rotary movements of the at least one partial area have proven to be advantageous. Use according to the invented solution of transducer materials for extension enables not only extraordinarily quick activation and extension of the partial area but also carrying out the extension in reverse safely, i.e. mis-triggering does not lead to failure of the safety system according to the present invention as is the case with airbag systems in which the airbag has to be completely replaced after activation. The safety system's reversible manner of functioning according to the invented solution therefore excuses misinterpretations of the sensor-detected imminent situation, thereby permitting use of less reliable and consequently less expensive sensor systems.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is made more apparent in the following using preferred embodiments with reference to the drawings by way of example without the intention of limiting the scope or spirit of the inventive idea.

FIG. 1 shows a schematic representation of a typical lateral impact situation,

FIGS. 2 a, b show a schematic representation of an interior door lining designed according to the invented solution, and

FIGS. 3 a, b, c show sequential image representations of the extension of at least one partial area of an interior door lining.

WAYS TO CARRY OUT THE INVENTION, COMMERCIAL APPLICABILITY

FIG. 1 shows a schematic moment picture of a shortly imminent unavoidable-deemed lateral impact situation. A person 1 sitting inside a motor vehicle on a motor vehicle seat 2 is a distance d from the interior door lining 3 of a motor vehicle door 4. A not depicted sensor system recognizes the unavoidable-deemed lateral situation in which a vehicle 5 approaches the motor vehicle door 4 laterally. In this case, the partial areas 6,7 of the interior door lining 3 are extended in the direction of the motor vehicle interior 8 to fill the intermediate space between the person 1 and the interior door lining 3 described by the space d and assumes an extended state toward the person 1.

If a collision occurs between the motor vehicle 5 and the schematically depicted motor vehicle door 4, the person 1 is then first moved back in the direction of the force impact caused by the motor vehicle 5, i.e. in the described case accelerated to the left and then due to the restraining force of the seat-belt system is returned in the direction of the motor vehicle door 4. However, this return process occurs dampened, respectively decelerated as the partial areas 6,7 connected to the interior door lining 3 are returned to their initial state 6′, 7′ (see hatched area). The process of returning the partial state 6, 7 occurs dampened, respectively decelerated, notably using suited dampening units, which are returned by means of the transducer materials or foam rubber elements or the like.

FIG. 2 a shows schematically the interior door lining 3 of a motor vehicle door 4 with two plane designed partial areas 6,7 which can be conveyed out of the surface of the interior door lining 3 in an extended state in the direction of the motor vehicle interior. The partial area 6 is able to intercept, respectively cushion the torso region, respectively the shoulder region, of a person situated in a motor vehicle seat, whereas the partial area 7 is able to protect the pelvis region of a person. In the preferred embodiment version according to FIG. 2 b, the entire interior door lining (see hatching) is conveyable into an extended state projecting into the interior of the motor vehicle.

In each instance, extension of a partial area of the interior door lining can occur either along a linear axis in a translating manner or according to the sequential picture representation of FIG. 3 a to c by means of rotation about a vertically disposed swiveling axis 10. The sequential pictures shown in FIGS. 3 a to c correspond to the schematic top views of a right motor vehicle door 4 on the interior side 3 of which is attached a partial area 6 borne in such a manner that it can clap, respectively swing, into the motor vehicle interior 8. The motor vehicle door is locked between the A column and the B column. The partial area 6 is articulated rotatably about the axis 10 with its front side edge region and with its opposite end region connected to the articulation kinematics 11 swingable into the motor vehicle interior 8. On the one hand, the articulation kinematics 11 is connected to the freely swingable end of the partial area 6 and, on the other hand, to the motor vehicle door 4. The articulation kinematics 11 serves both as a drive unit to extend the partial area 6, see picture representation according to FIG. 3 b, and to return the extended partial area 6 into the initial state (FIG. 3 c) in a dampened manner. The articulation kinematics 11 designed as a drive unit as well as a dampening unit is made of a transducer material or is at least provided with parts comprising a transducer material, for example in the form of a memory alloy or an electrorheological fluid whose extension is influenceable by energy input, preferably in the form of electric energy. Of course other transducer materials can also be used, for example piezo-ceramics, in particular unleaded piezo-ceramics, piezo-polymers electrostrictive ceramics, electrorheological fluids, polymer gels, magnet rheological fluids, as well as shape-memory polymers. Depending on the utilized transducer material, corresponding actor designs are required for the successful extension of the respective partial area.

The articulation kinematics 11 comprising at least some parts of transducer materials with an individually adjustable dampening behavior, respectively a prescribed dampening behavior permitting returning the extended partial area 6 with individual decelerating characteristics. It is, of course, also possible in addition to combine the articulation kinematics 11 with further dampening units, for example with elastomers or foam rubber cushions, etc.

List of References

1 person

2 motor vehicle seat

3 interior door lining

4 motor vehicle door

5 motor vehicle

6, 7 partial areas

8 motor vehicle interior

9 seat-belt system

10 swinging axis

11 articulation kinematics 

1. A device for increasing occupant protection in a motor vehicle during a lateral impact, in which the energy input acts laterally on a partial area of the motor vehicle door, with a motor vehicle seat being situated on the side of the motor vehicle door facing away from the energy input, the motor vehicle door being provided with an interior lining facing the motor vehicle seat and at least one partial area of the interior door lining being conveyable from an initial state into one projecting into the motor vehicle interior by means of a drive unit connected to the motor vehicle door and to the partial area of the interior door lining, wherein the drive unit is provided with a transducer material which is activatable by energy input.
 2. The device according to claim 1, wherein provided between the motor vehicle door and the partial area of the interior door lining is a dampening unit which permits dampened returning of the partial area in the direction of the initial state in the event of a force input coming from the motor vehicle interior.
 3. The device according to claim 1, wherein provided on the motor vehicle is a sensor system with an evaluation unit which is able to detect a shortly imminent lateral impact, and in case of detection of an unavoidable-deemed lateral impact, the drive unit is activatable and conveys the at least one partial area into an extended state before the lateral-impact-based energy input acts on the motor vehicle door.
 4. The device according to claim 2, wherein the dampening unit is provided with a transducer material.
 5. The device according to claim 1, wherein the dampening behavior of the transducer material is adjustable by the energy input.
 6. The device according to claim 2, wherein the drive unit and the dampening unit are designed as one component based on a transducer material.
 7. The device according to claim 2, wherein the dampening unit is provided with an elastic element and/or dilatable and deflatable element.
 8. The device according to claim 2, wherein the dampening unit is a foamed cushion.
 9. The device according to claim 1, wherein the drive unit is designed as a linear drive which moves the at least one partial area along a linear axis directed into the motor vehicle interior.
 10. The device according to claim 1, wherein the at least one partial area of the interior door lining is borne swingably about a vertically oriented swinging axis into the motor vehicle interior.
 11. The device according to claim 1, wherein the at least one partial area of the interior door lining is disposed at the torus level, the shoulder level or the pelvis region level of a person sitting in the motor vehicle seat.
 12. The device according to claim 10, wherein a multiplicity of extendable parts of the interior door lining are provided of which one is disposed at the torus level, the shoulder level and/or the pelvis region level, respectively, of a person sitting in the motor vehicle seat, and the single extendable parts are activable with a uniform or a varying extension.
 13. The device according to claim 1, wherein the extendable parts are each provided with dampening units with the same or varying dampening characteristics which are adapted to the biomechanical stress limits of the respective partial area of the body of the person.
 14. The device according to claim 1, wherein in the extended state the partial area, measured from the surface of the interior door lining, projects so far into the motor vehicle interior that an intermediate space between the partial area facing the motor vehicle interior and a person situated on the motor vehicle seat is minimized.
 15. The device to claim 1, wherein the dampened return of the partial area occurs by means of selecting the dampening in such a manner, that in the event of an impact of a person situated on the motor vehicle seat onto the extended partial area, the physiological stress limits of the person are not exceeded.
 16. The device according to claim 1, wherein the transducer material is made of at least one of the following classes of materials: piezo-ceramics, unleaded piezo-ceramics, piezo-polymers, electrostrictive ceramics, electrorheological fluids, electroactive polymers, polymer gels, magnetorheological fluids, shape-memory alloys, shape-memory polymers.
 17. The device according to claim 2, wherein provided on the motor vehicle is a sensor system with an evaluation unit which is able to detect a shortly imminent lateral impact, and in case of detection of an unavoidable-deemed lateral impact, the drive unit is activatable and conveys the at least one partial area into an extended state before the lateral-impact-based energy input acts on the motor vehicle door.
 18. The device according to claim 17, wherein the dampening unit is provided with a transducer material. 